Food habits raise prostate cancer risk?

These latest findings fuel the debate on whether diet can play a role in preventing prostate cancer, the second most common cancer in men after lung cancer. It was the most common form of cancer diagnosed among men in the European Union during 2004, representing 15 per cent of male cancers and 238,000 new cases, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Scientists at Queen's University, Kingston, Canada examined the impact of a range of food habits on 80 men with prostate cancer and 334 cancer-free men being seen at urology clinics. The participants completed questionnaires about food prior to diagnosis and intake was assessed for the two years prior to enrolling in the study. The four dietary patterns identified and tracked were identified as: Healthy Living, Traditional Western, Processed and Beverages. According to the researchers, increased prostate cancer risk was apparent in the Processed diet, a pattern composed of processed meats, red meats, organ meats, refined grains, white bread, onions and tomatoes, vegetable oil and juice, soft drinks and bottled water. The Traditional Western diet, rich in red meats, processed meats, eggs, milk, desserts, potatoes, mayonnaise was associated with a slightly increased prostate cancer risk. The Beverage diet, a no-alcohol pattern with tap water, soft drinks and fruit juices, potatoes, poultry and margarine showed no association with an increased prostate cancer risk. Nor did the Healthy Living pattern, heavy on vegetables, fruits, whole grains,fish and poultry.

Food habits raise prostate cancer risk?

Diets high in refined grain products and processed meats could raise the risk of prostate cancer risk, say Canadian researchers.

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